Prosecutors offer plea deal in infant death case

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AVON - A mother facing felony charges stemming from the death of her infant son has two weeks to decide whether to accept a plea deal or take her chances at trial.

Prosecutors offered Tanya Baca, 30, the chance to plead guilty to manslaughter, a Class 4 felony. If she takes the offer she faces between two and six years in prison.

For now, she's charged with child abuse resulting in death. If she takes her chances with a jury trial and is convicted, she faces a 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence, and up to 32 years.

"The indications we have is that she was drunk, tripped and landed on the baby," said District Attorney Mark Hurlbert. "Given those facts, we thought a 10-year minimum sentence in the department of corrections was inappropriate."

Baca made her first appearance in District Court Wednesday morning, before District Court Judge R. Thomas Moorhead.

"She needs more time to consider it, between two weeks and a month," said Reed Owens, her public defender.

Moorhead set her next court appearance for 9 a.m., Aug. 15, when she and Owens will either announce plea agreement or schedule a trial date.